Logan O'Hoppe's 3-run Homer Propels Angels Past Tigers 5-2 For 5th Straight Win
By Philip O'Connor
BERLIN, June 28 (Reuters) - Goalkeeper Yann Sommer is looking forward to re-acquainting himself with some of his Inter Milan team mates when his Switzerland side take on Italy in the last 16 at Euro 2024 on Saturday as contact has ceased since the draw put them on a collision course.
"I have spoken to the lads on a number of occasions over the course of the Euros, but not in the lead-up to the game. We've stopped contacting one another because both sides are focusing on the task at hand," a smiling Sommer told reporters at Berlin's Olympiastadion on Friday.
A 3-1 win over Hungary and successive 1-1 draws with Scotland and Germany set the Swiss up for their last 16 meeting with the Italians, and though they have not beaten Italy since May 1993, some see the Swiss as favourites in the tie.
"We're all focused on making it through to the quarter-finals ... every starting position is different in every major tournament. The opposition changes," Sommer said.
"We're very pleased to play against Italy in the round of 16 tomorrow night, it's a hugely important game for both sides. It's a wonderful stadium and the atmosphere should be great," he added.
Given that Italy have been involved in seven penalty shoot-outs at the Euros, Sommer might find himself the centre of attention if it comes down to spot kicks, and coach Murat Yakin said his side was ready.
"Everyone has taken a penalty in training, we've jotted down some notes but of course, it's not the same thing, taking a penalty on the training ground as opposed to taking one in a match situation with all of the pressure that pertains to that," Yakin told reporters.
"To be honest, I don't want to go to penalties. I hope we can win the game prior to that, because penalties are a lottery, and we know it's not particularly nice thing to go through. But yes, we have practised that as well. And we hope that if we go to penalties, we can win them as well," he added.
The Swiss coach said there would be some changes to the starting line-up, but that everyone is fit and ready to play.
"There's an excellent mood in the camp. And we have fought really hard to make it this far, and we can't wait to get out there and play against Italy," Yakin said.
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
AdobeStock 384213797 Scaled D3e60fd9 4cea 466c 829a 923bc70733f1 ?fit=scale Down&source=next&width=700?media Id=10006371674437531LIVING BEDFORDNY Slide 889N VideoSixteenByNine3000 Bedford Open Space Map Bedford Map Final Revised Bedford 1882 Hosm34134 Plan De Bedford Bedford.webpEd6b093eee55c17c18a407ffb3060299 BEDFORD Bedford Uk Map Vector Gvl17b Ai 10 Ai Pdf 1 Bedford.webpBBLP 2040 Middle Map E1650640709699 BBLP 2040 South Map E1650640694505 985a6848a1db07916cbc2eefd43b4b92 Tumblr Ngbk8bKjiH1sgmvx6o3 1280 Ec37a38c841420f90240cb3017d9cdf2 New Bedford Maps Bedford Square London Uk Map 260nw 379134859 9 Cd3f9646 B4cb 4bc5 B5c7 9d320a6a1ed8 1024x1024 ?v=148491472795c8144d48fd754249620749d5ab4c46 Mapa De Carreteras De Bedford Inglaterra M1b5an Bedford 1898 1901 Rnc636235 5 208bdbe7 41b1 4e5a 9710 02d6143b807d 400x248 Crop Center ?v=14849147274 519a2f9c F626 4bcf 8a57 0fb409efdba2 1271x784 ?v=14849147277 7dde5ee5 1244 413c 8003 Fb0af85745ff 400x248 Crop Center ?v=14849147278 8600e04c A6f7 41d4 9196 D9aefb0cbe70 400x248 Crop Center ?v=1484914727Staticmap.php?center=52.137880, 0.471131&zoom=15&size=xy&maptype=tm&markers=52.137880, 0.471131,marker 34Tumblr Nq36qzMLg81sgmvx6o1 500 6 04345f4e 787c 4192 8b56 11b7b2838edb 1271x784 ?v=1484914727Lng= 63.6731567 Bedford Map Great Britain 4085941 Tumblr Ngbk8bKjiH1sgmvx6o1 1280